Do you suffer from eczema, cystic acne, psoriasis, or rosacea? Have you tried a handful of lotions, creams, and topical treatments yet seen little to no relief? It’s time to stop treating your skin conditions from the outside in and start treating the root cause of the issue--your gut microbiome.
Our skin acts as a window into the health of our gut. With 100 trillion living microorganisms, your gut directly influences the condition of your skin. Scientists have discovered the microbes in our gut are responsible for the line of communication between our skin, brain, and immune system, and influence:
Inflammation -- the root cause of many diseases;
Oxidative stress -- a cause of inflammation;
Tissue lipid levels -- required for healthy metabolism;
Glycemic control -- one’s ability to balance blood sugar;
Neuropeptide levels -- linked to mood and pain tolerance;
Pathogenic bacteria -- bad bacteria that can make you sick; and
Mood-regulating neurotransmitters -- most serotonin (happy neurotransmitter) is made in the gut.
Our gut and skin have a lot in common. They both provide us with protection from the world around us and each have microbiomes. It’s important to also note that the foods we eat are directly made available to our skin. As such, what we eat can significantly affect our skin’s appearance.
Skin Conditions That Begin In The Gut
If you’ve struggled with any of the following skin conditions, your gut may be to blame:
Eczema
Rosacea
Acne vulgaris
Cystic acne
Psoriasis
Dandruff
Seborrhoeic dermatitis
Alopecia
Vitiligo
Oral mucosal lesions
Gut-Skin Connections
Leaky Gut and Cystic Acne
According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), acne is more of a condition of the gut than it is of the skin.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins are part of harmful bacteria that can have a detrimental effect on both the gut and skin. LPS endotoxins are associated with acne vulgaris and, when one’s levels of LPS endotoxins are high, it can interfere with wound healing and exacerbate scars.
High levels of LPS endotoxins can also contribute to leaky gut and people with leaky gut are more likely to have acne (also E. coli, irritable bowel syndrome, and anxiety).
Eczema and Gut Health
Eczema, caused by an overactive immune system, undeniably begins in the gut. An overactive immune system is frequently the result of an imbalance of bacteria in our gut. As such, in order to relieve eczema symptoms, one should seek to reduce inflammation and increase microbial diversity in the gut.
Rosacea and SIBO
Although a relatively new discovery, doctors have made a connection between those who suffer from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) and rosacea.
Celiac Disease and Other Skin Conditions
People with celiac disease are more likely to suffer from: dermatitis herpetiformis, alopecia, eczema, urticaria, vitiligo, and oral mucosal lesions. These skin conditions will likely clear up as those with celiac disease start treating their gut in an effort to heal the symptoms of their disease.
Why It’s Important
The average woman applies 168 chemicals to her skin daily. Men apply around 85 chemicals. These chemicals are absorbed by our skin and many enter the bloodstream. Most of these chemicals are not “clean” and some may even be toxic. What is more, many provide little to no relief of our long-term skin issues.
At Total Body Body Functional Health, we want to treat more than just the surface of your skin--we want to get to the root cause of the issue. Set up our FREE consultation so we can check the health of your gut and help restore your confidence in your skin.